Tag Archive for: DIY design

Affordable Interior Design in Temecula

Chaparro BedroomI recently participated in a Home Show Event in a private Del Webb community in Hemet, California. I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of residents at the event. I am always surprised at how people are confused as to how designers charge for their time. Many people are under the misconception that designers are expensive to work with and they can’t afford to hire one. Granted, some top designers in major metropolitan areas are expensive to work with. Many have made a name for themselves and work with celebrities who have large budgets to offer the designer to work with. A designer has to keep in mind the area he or she works in and who they want to target their services to. Designers also have many ways they can charge for their services. They can charge a flat rate, an hourly rate, cost plus for purchases and/or a combination of these.

Working with a designer can actually save you money on your project. Their education and experience in their specialized field qualifies them to create a cohesive design for each project. Designers skillfully combine artistry, project management and knowledge of interior design into one profession. Each project is unique and requires a wide spectrum of ability to complete a wide range of tasks on time as well as on budget. From sketching, designing, researching, shopping for furniture, fabrics, paint, and accessories, coordinating trades, installers and deliveries takes a lot of time and knowledge. Most people do not understand what goes into creating a successful design project. Unfortunately HGTV has given people a false view of our industry. They fail to show all the time, people and actual cost involved with a design project. They simplify the project and lead the viewer to believe that design is a simple process. Anyone who has tried to tackle a project on their own with less than satisfactory results or are left with a room they hate can attest to this. A designer can save you from making purchase mistakes and wasting money. They can also save you money by selling  you items way below retail prices.

For the past twelve years, I have offered affordable interior design services at  Rancho Interior Design. I always ask for a budget before I begin a project so I create a practical design that can be implemented. There’s nothing worse than creating a design that a client can’t afford to purchase. I have been successful at creating beautiful spaces with quality furnishings on modest budgets.  I have different design plan options so anyone who needs help can afford to work with me and my team.

I wanted to blog about this subject after a couple I worked with came up to me at the Home Show (they were the reason I was invited to be featured at the event!). They both individually pulled me aside and said how much they loved their home and how much money I saved them!! I was able to sell them furniture at lower prices than they shopped for anywhere else. They said the amount I saved them more than paid for my services. (Their bedroom is featured here on top of this blog). So I hope I cleared up some misconceptions about how we charge and let you know that yes, Interior Designers can be affordable. Give me a call.

Vintage Items Add Beauty To Modern Homes

windows2One of the most popular design trends happening now is incorporating vintage pieces in the home. People are finding interesting furniture and decorative items from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, basically Mid-Century and incorporating them in their modern homes. It’s not about just using old furniture, however. The new twist is giving them new life in some way by re-painting, adding to or re-purposing the piece. For example 50’s chairs are given new life by painting them in a bright color such as orange or reupholstering them in a geometric fabric pattern. An old pantry can become a kid’s room shelf. Old windows can become a collection of wall art. A lot of stores are popping up around the country featuring vintage furnishings and accessories. So have fun and go find some old treasures to enjoy in your home. It’s an inexpensive way to spice up your rooms and add a touch of nostalgia, style and fun. www.ranchointeriordesign.com

Virtual Interior Design-Affordable way to get design help

Rancho Interior Design now offers Virtual Interior Design services . Virtual Interior Design is a fairly new design service that some Interior Design firms are offering. The use of the term “virtual” means that your design can be done without ever meeting the designer in person so it can be done from virtually anywhere you live. It is a great alternative for do-it-yourselfers, that is anyone who prefers to do all of the labor and shopping themselves and also for people working with a small budget. You get the benefit of working with a designer at a fraction of the cost of a traditional design project.

Although design shows such as the ones on HGTV are entertaining and we enjoy seeing the designers transform spaces, the shows are very misleading to the public. Most shows fail to show us the entire behind the scenes work, additional designers, assistants and trades people and actual costs of the projects they tackle. These shows lead people to believe that interior design is simple and anyone can tackle any project and achieve the same results.  In fact, designers and decorators have many years of education and experience in their trade. Of course there are those out there who are naturally talented and can plan a beautiful room all by themselves. But most people find themselves stumped when they set out to begin a project and do not know how to do a space plan, where to begin, where to purchase materials or how much the project will actually cost them.  This is where a Virtual Interior Design plan can help.

Like any design project, the process must begin with learning about the client and the space they want to design. Rather than meeting with the designer in their home, the client communicates with the designer mainly by email. They begin by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaire will have questions such as: How do you describe your style, What is the function of the room, What colors do you like, Do you entertain often, Do you have kids or pets, and What is your budget? These answers will help the designer plan a room that reflects their style and fits their needs. Clients are given instructions on how to measure the space and take photos of the room and any furniture that will be included in the plan. Then the questionnaire, measurements and photos are sent to the designer via email. Once the designer receives all the materials, she can begin her research to design the perfect space for her clients from her studio. The design plan will include all the elements for a complete room including; construction/remodel suggestions, floor plan/furniture arrangement, photos, sketches, color palette, furniture suggestions, wall treatments, window treatments, accessories and lighting, and a  resource list of where to purchase all the items for the room including retail prices. This information is then sent to the client via email or regular mail for them to implement the plan. So if time and budget are considerations, Virtual Design is a great way to benefit from the experience and knowledge of a designer for a modest cost. You will feel confident that the plan you are embarking on will be within your budget and be properly designed with your personal style and needs in mind. If you are interested in having us design your room for a very affordable fee, please call or email us anytime.

Virtual Interior Design

Rancho interior Design is now offering Virtual Interior Design! Now no matter where you live, we can help you design your space. Complete a design questionnaire, measure your space and send us photos of your rooms. We will provide you with a floor plan, color suggestions, furnishings and accessories suggestions, window and wall treatment ideas and sources for purchasing every product. All for a modest price. Call or email us today to get started.

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Happy Spring Re-Design

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The first day of Spring 2012 is here! Spring cleaning is a tradition for most of us. Spring is

also a great time to look at your home and decide what re-design ideas you’ve been wanting to tackle. We at  Rancho Interior Design are often asked, “What small changes can I make to my space that will change the look of my room?”  There are several changes you can make to impact the look of your room. Start by researching new trends in color and style. Consider painting your space. Color can instantly transform a room. Accent walls are popular as well as wall decals that come in a myriad of designs and can create a beautiful focal wall. Look at this room. A purple accent wall with decals becomes a great accent wall in the desk niche. they also added accents of purple in the room to carry the color theme through the room. Window treatments are the next consideration for your space. Decorative window treatments help define the style of the room and can add color and texture to your space. Add accessories such as area rug, throws, pillows and creative art to complete the room re-design. If you need some help contact Rancho Interior Design.  We offer a Virtual Design  service where we can give you ideas for your room design simply by sending us your room measurements and photos. It’s a great, affordable design service that we offer to anyone via the internet. Happy Spring Re-Design.

Color Forecasts for 2012

We here at Rancho Interior Design are always excited to see the color trend predictions  each new year. One resource, Brentano Fabrics has made their predictions for 2012.  Brentano Fabrics is an internationally represented textile manufacturer, manufacturing everything from upscale textiles to affordable residential fabrics. Their design department looks back on the success and trends of 2011, considers client requests and what they have observed lately in the world of design.

Based on their research, they have come up with six colors which were singled out for 2012 including updated neutrals Paper White, Graphite and Linen, and bold and jewel toned hues.

Marine- A continuation form 2011, marine is a navy that plays up the rich jewel toned aspect of the color blue-a classic color for interiors.

Sprout-This bright yellow-green shade is perfect for livening up an atmosphere. Use it for accent pieces to give interiors a pop of color surprise.

Tangerine-A reddish orange that works well with neutrals.

Paper White-A true white getting away form the creamier neutrals, pure, clean, crisp and luxurious with any color.

Graphite-Grays have been strong and now we see grays shifting to darker charcoal that looks beautiful with deep yellows and purples as well as neutrals.

Linen-Linen looks beautiful as a crisp white or in its natural  unprocessed form. It works well as a neutral and perfect for a subtle palette.

Watch for more color and design trend predictions in upcoming blogs.